Steam generator for forming and pressing devices



s DowaNsKY 2,039 892 STEAM GENERATOR FOR FORMING AND PRESSING DEVICESFiled June 19,

II/I/IA INV ENTO r V M42 ATTORNEYfi Samuei flowi/zzsizjy 2f 105WITNESSES 52 Patented May 5, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEAMGENERATOR FOR FORMING AND PRESSING DEVICES 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a steam generator which is designed andadapted for use in various devices for steaming, forming or shaping, andpressing fabrics, and various articles made of fabric including appareland garments.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a steamgenerator which embodies novel construction by virtue of which a unit isconstituted enabling incorporation thereof in devices of the indicatedcharacter, also enabling replacement of a heating element constituting apart thereof without scrapping other parts unnecessarily, also giving anincreased thermal efficiency so that steam is instantly generated anddelivered upon repeatedly introducing quantities of water by suitablemeans connected therewith.

The nature of the invention and its distinguishing features andadvantages will appear when the following specification is read inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a sideView of a pressing and forming device selected to illustrate theinvention embodied thereby;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section through the device showingcertain features of the invention;

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3, 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4, 4 of Figure 3.

Referring now more particularly to the several views of the drawing, itwill be apparent that the steam generator of the present inventionincludes a metal body I of such size and shape that it may be arrangedwithin a casing constituting a part of a device used for the variouspurposes mentioned. In the present instance, the body I0 is rectangularor oblong in shape. The body II] may be made of one piece, or may bemade of separate sections, as in the present instance. As shown, thebody II] consists of two sections, a section II and a section I2. Eachsection is of hollow construction to provide a space or chamber, thespace or chamber in the section I I being designated I3 and that in thesection I2 being designated l4. The space or chamber in each of thesections II and I2 is provided by boring a hole therein from one end,the open end being closed by a removable plug I5. The section II hasgrooves I6, while the section I2 has edge portions I! which fit into thegrooves I6 respectively. Each section II and I2 is tapped near its upperend to receive a removable plug I8. When the sections II and I2 arebrought together with the edge portions I I of the section I2 in thegrooves I6 in the section II, a space T9 is formed between the sectionsII and I2 by reason of their cross sectional formations. The space I9extends from one end of the body ID to the other. The sections II and I2are fastened or secured to each other by suitable fastening element inthe form of a screw 20 which is received in tapped holes in the sectionsII and I2 which are in alinement with the plugs 10 I8. The screw 20 hasa bore 2I extending therethrough which establishes communication betweenthe chambers l3 and I4 at a suitable distance above the bottoms thereofand thus forms one continuous passage within the body II]. The screw maybe employed to fasten or secure the sections II and I2 to each other byremoving the plug I8 of the section I2. The section II has securedthereto a water inlet 22 which communicates with the chamber I3. Theinlet 22 may 20 be arranged at any suitable point, and in the presentinstance it is arranged at one side between the ends of the sections, asshown in Figure 3. The section I2 has a steam outlet 23 whichcommunicates with the chamber I4 pref- 25 erably at the lower endthereof as shown in Figure 2. A conduit conducts steam generated withinthe body I0 from the chamber I4 to a point of delivery. The conduitconsists of a copper tube 24 which is coiled about the body I 0 incontact therewith, and one end of the tube 24 is connected with theoutlet 23, as at 25, and the other end 26 of the tube; projects beyondthe body Ill. The body I0 is heated by electric heating element 21 ofany suitable construction. The heating element 21 is designed to lit inthe space I9 formed between the sections II and I2 in contact therewithso as to heat by conduction. The heating element is long enough toproject beyond the opposite ends of the body I0, and is held in placewith respect to the body III by the screw 20, the element 2'! beingprovided with a hole for that purpose, and the resistance coil of theelement having certain of the convolutions thereof Widely separated toaccommodate the screw 20 and avoid short circuiting. Certain con-'volutions of the tube 24 are also widely separated in order to affordaccess to the plugs IB so that they may be removed in order to removethe screw 20, when it is desired to remove the heating element 21 shouldthe occasion arise to re place the same. Certain refractory or ceramicor other heat resisting material 28 is applied to the body I0 with thecoils of the tube 24 embedded therein.

The steam generating unit hereinabove described is designed and adaptedto be arranged within a steaming, forming and pressing device. In thepresent instance, by way of example, the unit is arranged within thecasing 29 of a device for fonning and finishing scalloped edges ofgarments. This device includes a valve 30 secured to the casing 29 andconnected with the water inlet 22 by a coupling 3|. The terminals 32 ofthe heating element 2'! are connected with binding posts 33 carried bythe casing 29 and. insulated therefrom. The binding posts 33 projectinto a receptacle or socket 34 secured to the casing 29. Electriccurrent is supplied by conductors connected with the socket 34. A watersupply pipe is connected with the valve 30, the water being obtainedfrom any suitable source. The end 26 of the tube 24 projects upwardlythrough the casing 29 into a former 35 detachably secured to anextension 36 and the casing 29, by a screw 31. The former 35 is onewhich is adapted to shape or form a scallop on the edge of a garment orthe like when inserted therein with steam being caused to issuetherefrom through passages 38 opening through one face of the former 35.The heating element has a hole to accommodate the screw 31, and at thispoint the resistance coil of said element has certain convolutionsthereof widely separated in order to accommodate the screw 31 to avoidshort circuiting. The end 26 of the tube 24 loosely fits in a bore inthe former 35. The casing 29 has a removable section 39 in order toincorporate the unit within the casing and to permit the removalthereof.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that the body l0 may be heatedwhen current is flowing to the heating element 21, and that bymanipulating the valve 3|] quantities of water will be introduced intothe chamber 13 of the section II. The water is admitted at intervals andis instantly converted into steam by coming in contact with the walls ofthe section II. The quite moist steam flows from the chamber I3 into thechamber l4 through the passage 2|, where the steam is further attenuatedand enters the tube 24 through the outlet 23. The tube 24 conducts thesteam to the former 35 for the stated purpose. It will thus beunderstood that the objects of the invention hereinbefore mentioned maybe attained.

I claim:

1. A steam generator for forming and pressing devices, comprising ametal body consisting of separate sections, each of said sections beingof hollow construction, means which secures said sections together andwhich forms a passage communicating with the interiors of said sectionsat a. suitable distance above the bottom thereof, water inlet meanscommunicating with the interior of one of said sections, a pipe coiledabout said body in contact therewith and having one end thereofcommunicating with the interior of the other of said sections and theother end of the pipe being disposed to deliver steam, said sectionsbeing formed to provide a space therebetween when secured as aforesaid,and heating means extending in said space for heating said sections.

2. A steam generator for forming and pressing devices, comprising ametal body consisting of separate sections, each of said sections beingof hollow construction, means which SBCLLIGS said sections together andwhich forms a passage communicating with the interiors of said sectionsat a suitable distance above the bottom thereof, Water inlet meanscommunicating with the interior of one of said sections, a pipe coiledabout said body and having one end thereof communicating with theinterior of the other of said sections and the other end of the pipebeing disposed to deliver steam, said sections being formed to provide aspace therebetween when secured as aforesaid, and heating meansextending in said space for heating said sections, said first meansextending through said heating means to hold it in place.

3. A steam generator of the class described, comprising a metal bodyconsisting of separate sections, each of said sections being of hollowconstruction, one of said sections having spaced edge portions which fitin spaced grooves in the other section to prevent lateral displacementof the sections with respect to each other, means which secures saidsections together and which forms a passage communicating with the interiors of said sections at a suitable distance above the bottomthereof, water inlet means communicating with the interior of one ofsaid sections, conduit means coiled about said body and having one endthereof communicating with the interior of the other of said sectionsand providing a steam outlet terminal projecting from the body, saidsections being formed to provide a space therebetween when secured asaforesaid, and a heating element extending in said space in contact withthe sections to heat them.

4. A steam generator comprising a metal body consisting of separatesections, each of said sections being of hollow construction, a securingelement having a bore therethrough, said sec tions being securedtogether side by side by said element, said element being disposed sothat its bore establishes communication between the interiors of saidsections at a suitable distance above the bottoms thereof, water inletmeans communicating with the interior of one of said sections, a pipeextending about said body and having one end thereof communicating withthe interior of the other one of said sections and the other end of thepipe being disposed to deliver steam, said sections being formed toprovide a space therebetween when secured as aforesaid, and heatingmeans extending in said space for heating said sections.

SAMUEL DOWINSKY.

